Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Millis vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Killingly | Millis | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,888 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Millis and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Millis and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #63 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Millis | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Millis High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.